Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Wednesday 12 June 1974, page 1


The Governor General, Sir Paul Hasluck, left, with the Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, at Government House after the announcement of the new Cabinet

portfolios at Parliament House yesterday.

Labor Ministry

announced

By DAVID SOLOMON, Political Correspondent

The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, made only four major changes in his Ministry yesterday, following the re-election on Monday of his former team and the addition of Senator _Wheeldon.

He has also made a few minor changes, including an increase in the powers of the new Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Cairns.

The new Ministers will be sworn in this morning.

Mr Cameron becomes Minister for Labour and Immigration, instead of just Minister for Labour.

Senator Wheeldon becomes Minister for Repatriation and Compensation. Senator Bishop becomes Postmaster-General, instead of Minister for Repatriation.

Mr Bowen loses the PMG but remains Special Minister of State, and becomes Minister Assisting the Prime Minister in matters relating to the Public Service.

Dr Cairns takes control of the Priorities Review Staff from the Special Minister of State, and of

(he proposed Adjustment Assist

ance Agency.

Senator Wriedt is Minister for Agriculture, rather than Minister for Primary Industry (just a change in name).

Mr Enderby is Minister for Manufacturing Industry, combining his previous responsibilities as Minister for Secondary Industry and Minister for Supply. Senator McClelland, still Minister for the Media, becomes manager of Government business in the Senate. Mr Morrison, still Minister for Science, takes on the responsibility formerly held by Senator Bishop of assisting the Minister for Defence.

Departments disappear

The changes involve the disappearance of two departments, Immigration and Supply.

Tho head of Immigration, Mr Armstrong, will become a special adviser to the Minister and to the

nes^Department of Labour

and Immigration on immigration matters.

Later some o£ the functions of the former Immigration Department will later be transferred to such Departments as Foreign Affairs, Education and Social Security.

The Department of Supply will be merged with the Department of Secondary Industry, to becomq the Department of Manufacturing Industry. Its head will.be the Secretary of Surnlv, Mr Currie.

Mr Pryor, from Secondary Industry, is likely to head the proposed Australian Government Purchasing Commission, which will come under the responsibility of the Special Minister of State.

Additional

duties

D;- Cairns's promotion to the Deputy Prime Ministership persuaded Mr Whitlam to grant "him a few additional duties to those in Overseas Trade, but not all that Dr Cairns wanted.

Dr Cairns will have the Priorities Review Staff, and the proposed Adjustment Assistance Agency, which provides compensation in the wake of currency changes and tariff changes.

But he will not have responsibility for the Industries Assistance Commission, which he wanted to take from Mr Whitlam.

The new Minister. Senator WheelJon, has gained a major new policy department, through the addition of some very important functions to the old Repatriation Department.

Incorporation

suggested

There were serious sukgestions that Repatriation should be abolished as a separate department, and perhaps incorporated in Social Security.

Instead, however, the Prime Minister, decided to expand Repatriation into Repatriation and Compensation.

The compensation in the title includes Commonwealth Employees'Compensation Compensation and seamen's compensation, and also the arrangements likely to be entered into on a massive scale following the report of the Woodhouse Committee on National Rehabilitation and Compensation. This report is due by the end of the month.

The department will also take over important functions from the Housing Department involving home-loans insurance and defence-service-homes in

surance.

Responsible for

proposals

More significantly, it will be responsible for initiating the proposals announced during the election campaign by Mr Whitlam for an Australian

Government Insurance Office.

It will also be responsible for the organisation to cope with natural disasters and air accidents..

The importance attached to the new department reflects Senator Wheeldon's high rating by the caucus in the poll on Monday. Though the only new Minister, he ranks number 16 in the Ministry of 27.

Wider total

function

In a statement issued last night, Mr Whitlam said Senator Wheeldon's functions would be wider than those of the former Minister for Repatrication in that the function was now seen as part of a wider total function of compensation for deserving groups in the community.

He said, "The purpose of creating the new department is to transform the old Department of Repatriation into a more comprehensive whole.

"There is no question of abolishing the department: it will be expanded, and there will be no diminution in the care and concern for returned servicemen — only extension of the functions of the department to cover all aspects of compensation.

Mr Kingsland

head

"The Repatriation Commission will continue to operate as at present, under the chairmanship of Mr Kingsland, who will be appointed head of the new Department of Repatriation and Compensation".

Mr Cameron would hold the new portfolio of Labour and Immigration. To his existing functions as Minister for Labour would be added control of assisted migration.

Mr Ives would continue to be Secreta.y of the department.

"Other Immigration

functions will also be undertaken' for the time being by Mr Cameron but will later be transferred to such departments as Foreign Affuirs, Education and Social Security, Mr Whitlnm said.

He- also said that in becoming PostmasterGeneral Senator Bishop would preside over the establishment of the Postal Commission and the Telecommunications Commission proposed by the Royal Commission on the

Post Office.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Snedden, will meet the Country Party Leader, Mr Anthony, in Sydney today to discuss the composition of the Opposition "shadow" Minis

try.